Two people were taken by ambulance to Southland Hospital in Invercargill last night after an apartment fire in Dee St.
A St John spokesman said the pair were in a moderate condition and were treated for smoke inhalation.
Four other people were treated for smoke inhalation at the scene, he added. A Fire Service spokesman said a ground floor and first floor flat at the apartment caught fire in the blaze, which started about 6.35pm.
Two Invercargill fire crews responded to reports from a tenant that people were inside the building and two further crews were later called to the scene.
However, no-one was in the flats when the crews arrived, the spokesman said.
An Invercargill man, apartment tenant John Thompson told the Southland Express he kicked in the door of the flat before he and another tenant, Dylan Grennell, helped the occupants get out.
They also yelled to other tenants of the 12-flat complex to evacuate.
Another tenant, Leonie Spriggs, said she rescued a young boy from one of the flats.
Fire Service shift manager Andrew Norris told the Otago Daily Times one of the flats was fully involved when the first two crews arrived.
The cause of the fire was yet to be determined and a fire investigator was due on site today, he said.
- Additional reporting, Southland Express.
